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The Maine Coon Cat

Before we get into details, here's a quick overview of the Maine Coon cat:

Personality: Very friendly, love people, easy going, intelligent

Suits: Families, singles, first time cat owners

Other: Quite vocal, large cat

Breed Information

1) What are they like as pets?

These cats are easy going, energetic, playful and very clever. They love to be in homes where there's lots of activity and are good with other pets, including dogs. They love people and are good with children.

They can scoop up food with their paws and may learn how to open doors. Some like to throw their toys in water bowls, to then fish them out again!

They are a hardy breed, but are more at risk of cat kidney failure, hip dysplasia and cardiac problems than some other breeds.

They do an excellent job of grooming their long hair, so they don't need much grooming from their owners.

2) Looks, build, colors and markings

These cats are big, especially the boys. A fully grown male may weigh as much as 20 pounds, and literally be the size of a small dog. They don't reach their full mature size and weight until they're between 4 and 5 years old.

They've got a long, shaggy looking coat, big ears, a big, bushy tail and tufty paws. They have lovely big eyes and a muscular body. They come in many different colors. They are quite similar in looks to the Norwegian Forest cat.

3) History

It's not totally clear where Maine Coon cats originated. One story is that cats from Captain Cook's ship went ashore in America and mated with cats already on the land. Another story is that they belonged to Marie Antoinette, and were saved by being secretly put onto ships bound for America when she was beheaded.

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